CAUTION - TURNAROUND
"One customer did have issues. Wang Guanran, who documents his travels on hktravelblog.com, had his plans to travel to New York on Wednesday cut short when he was prevented from flying by immigration officials in Vietnam... he was detained by Vietnamese immigration officials, who said it was illegal to return to his city of origin while in transit." - Source:SCMP, 2 January 2019
Also https://rapidtravelchai.boardingarea...-direct-turns/

Visa Information: check out the Vietnam visa/VOA thread in the Asia forum. You can get either a visa on arrival where you get the stamp on arrival) or a "looseleaf" visa in advance from a VN Consulate in the US (which allows you to go straight to the immigration queue). There are sometimes lines for the VOA stamp and so the loosleaf approach can save you some time.

Seat Assignments

per NWPlatinum below - Cathay blocks out all seats except for 2D for some reason. I never understood the reasoning behind this but in any event just contact them for a seat assignment and they’ll let you have your choice. They like to block out seats for people with bassinets and babies. But you can usually get 2A, which is the best see if you’re solo traveler. Just say I want seat 2A and I’ll move if requested at the airport (never was asked to move)

Everyone needs an e-visa approval before boarding if they will enter the country. (e.g. clear customs). Connecting flights - even on separate tickets - do not require a visa IF IF IF the connecting airline has a counter in the transit area. (The airline may have their own rules.) Going back to the same country is not allowed without clearing customs first.

Expect the visa check at your point of departure. (Computer will flag your ticket.) The actual stamp is received on arrival (in most cases). (There is also the possibility of a visa insert with no need to go to 'visa on arrival'.)

Correction: CX is not in deep financial trouble as you claim. They have a strong balance sheet and are in good shape to weather any turbulence. They will be announcing profitable 2018 financial period in March 2019 so keep your eyes glued to the announcement.

As for the mistake fare, they have accepted this and the impact is immaterial as they will take this from the redemption booking inventory.

This will result in very limited redemption seat availability for the entire 2019, all thanks to the bloggers on social media for leaking the information (shame on you "That Points Guy" - aka TPG). This does no justice to frequent flyers who wish to redeem their miles for free seats.

CX has honored these bookings on the basis that they can be covered with future redemption seats allotment and whlilst some of this inventory that may have gone empty, some revenue has been captured as a result.

Therefore, you can see this as a good PR to those amateur premium travellers that bought so many tickets only to find themselves caught out that they might not be able to use them at the planned timing. Not to mention that changing the dates will create a fare difference. In addition, all these re positioning flights are not easy especially to Vietnam.

I thank TPG for allowing people like me the opportunity to live a moment of luxury that we otherwise may never experience.

This isn't the guy who kept saying "I have my sources. They will be cancelled. I have insider news. blah blah blah"?

Yes thought about that as well .
Some people her completely lost their credibility haha.

But yes, this is very surprising to say the least.

I really wonder what the loyal CX clientele think about this. I'm usually flying MH, QR and AY and only last month booked a CX revenue J ticket for the second time.
Managed to grab a code share First ticket on AA metal after CX metal sales had already been halted, just before the bell rang... I consider myself very lucky still!

Correction: CX is not in deep financial trouble as you claim. They have a strong balance sheet and are in good shape to weather any turbulence. They will be announcing profitable 2018 financial period in March 2019 so keep your eyes glued to the announcement.

As for the mistake fare, they have accepted this and the impact is immaterial as they will take this from the redemption booking inventory.

This will result in very limited redemption seat availability for the entire 2019, all thanks to the bloggers on social media for leaking the information (shame on you "That Points Guy" - aka TPG). This does no justice to frequent flyers who wish to redeem their miles for free seats.

CX has honored these bookings on the basis that they can be covered with future redemption seats allotment and whlilst some of this inventory that may have gone empty, some revenue has been captured as a result.

Therefore, you can see this as a good PR to those amateur premium travellers that bought so many tickets only to find themselves caught out that they might not be able to use them at the planned timing. Not to mention that changing the dates will create a fare difference. In addition, all these re positioning flights are not easy especially to Vietnam.

Thank you for shedding light on the situation (previous posts too), I was not aware that CX had a profitable 2018. My wife actually works for CX and the failed fuel hedge has been heavily criticized among her peers in the last few years. CX also made a lot of re-adjustments that may make her work tougher in 2019.

Nonetheless, i'm very impressed with CX deciding to honor this mistake fare, and proud to be part of CX family.

As for the mistake fare, they have accepted this and the impact is immaterial as they will take this from the redemption booking inventory.

This will result in very limited redemption seat availability for the entire 2019, all thanks to the bloggers on social media for leaking the information (shame on you "That Points Guy" - aka TPG). This does no justice to frequent flyers who wish to redeem their miles for free seats.

CX has honored these bookings on the basis that they can be covered with future redemption seats allotment and whlilst some of this inventory that may have gone empty, some revenue has been captured as a result.

Therefore, you can see this as a good PR to those amateur premium travellers that bought so many tickets only to find themselves caught out that they might not be able to use them at the planned timing. Not to mention that changing the dates will create a fare difference. In addition, all these re positioning flights are not easy especially to Vietnam.

Well, as a long time AA EXP, I can tell you that CX premium cabin award space has NEVER been easy to get, except right at apx 330 days, and has only grown more scarce in recent years. Usually 2 weeks out something might open up, but just never count on it. However, after a few CX PE trips to JFK early 2018, I had noticed that their J cabin wasn't as full as I remember it being some years ago. So, not sure what the deal is, but it's not my place to judge.

Not everyone has positioning problems. Easy to position to DAD-$135 RT DMK-DAD on Air Asia. VietJet is $200 RT from BKK. (Please note: I only bought one FC as I needed to go to FL in Jan. I was going to do two J tickets for our September trip back to the US, but couldn't find it as the deal was nearing its end.)

And, I usually fly premium cabin TPAC; SWU's on AA and purchase PE or I fares when they are on sale. QR deal to LAX was my favorite.